Banjo



(No Model.)

ANDERSON BANJO. No. 5OQ,507. Patented Nov. 28, 1893.

UNITED STATES PATENT ALFRED ANDERSON, OF CHELSEA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRDTO JOHN J. DAOEY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS;

BANJO.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 509,507, dated November28, 1893.

Application tiled July 21,1893. Serial No. 481,085. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.- l

Be it known that I, ALFRED ANDERSON, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Chelsea, in the county of Suifolk and State ofMassachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Banjos, ofwhich the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in banjos and it consists incombination with the rim and its drum of a detachable and adjustableneck and means for adjusting the Y position of they latter so as toraise or lower the strings relative to the drum which is very desirableas some players prefer to have the strings high and others low inrelation to said drum for producing the desired effects.

Among other advantages of my invention may be mentioned that the neckmay be detached from the rim during travel or transportation thusoccupying a very small space and preventing liability to breakage. Therim is increased in strength and the banjo is also rendered less heavy.

The invention is carried out as follows, ret'- erence being had to theaccompanying drawings, wherein- Figure l represents a top plan view ofthe improved banjo. Fig. 2 represents a detail sectional view on theline 2-2 shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents a cross section on the line3--3 shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 represents a cross-section on the line 4 4shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 represents a similar cross-section on the line 55 also shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 6 represents an end view of the inner endof the detachable neck; and Fig. 7 represents a detail plan view of thesocket on the rim for receiving said banjo-neck.

Similar letters refer to similar parts wherever they occur on thedifferent parts of the drawings.

In the drawings A represents the metal rim having secured to its insidethe wooden rim B as usual.

O represents the drum which is stretched and held in position by meansof the top hoop D and adjustable hook screws E, E, going through ears F,F, on the outside of the rim A and provided with tightening nuts e, e,as is common in banjos or similar stringed instruments.

G is the neck which is detachably and adjustably secured to the rim ofthe banjo for the purpose above mentioned.

g, g, are .the timing pegs to which the upper ends of the strings I, I,are attached as usual.

K is the bridge and L is the tail piece to which the lower ends of thestrings are secured in the ordinary manner.

To the inner end of the neck G is secured in a firm and substantialmanner a metal plate or shoe M adapted to fit into a metal socket Nsecured to the outside of the metal rim A as shown. The neck Gr issecured to the rim ot' the instrument in a detachable and adjustablemanner by means of a set screw O passing loosely through a perforationin the wood and metal rims and screwed into a screw threaded perforationin the metal shoe M as shown in Fig. 2. The screw O has a head O havinga concavity O on its under side bearing against a correspondingly shapedconvex metal washer P interposed between the concave under side of thescrew head O andthe rim ll2 so as to permit of a universal adjustment ofthe neck G relative to the rim of the instrument.

For the purpose of regulating the position of the neck relative to therim I prefer to provide the shoe M with screw threaded ears M', M', M,M, through which are screwed the respective adjusting screws m', m', m,m, as shown. The inner ends of the regulating screws m', m', are adaptedto bear against preferably cup shaped recesses on the metal shoe M andthe inner ends of the regulating screws m, m are adapted to bearagainsta washer plate Q interposed between said set screws and the tophoop D as shown respectively in Figs. 4 and 5. y The said washer plate Qis secured about midway between itsends to the shoe M as shown in Fig.5.

In the drawings I have shown the regulating set screws m', m', m", m, asbeing screwed through the metal shoe M on the neck G and adapted topress against the rim of the banjo but I wish to state that if sodesired said screws may be screwed from the inside through the rim andadapted to press against the said shoe or the neck without departingfrom the essence of my invention.

In adjusting the position of the neck rela- IOO tive to the rim of theinstrumentI proceed as follows: If it is desired to raise the strings Imore or less above the drum C, I release slightly the fastening screw Oand release the front screws m, m and tighten up the rear screws m', m,causing the neck G to be slightly tipped forward by which the stringsare raised above the drum as far as desired after which the screw O isturned up tightly so as to secure the neck G firmly to the rim of theinstrument. If it is desired to lower the strings I more or less, Irelease slightly the rear screws m', m', and tighten up the front onesm, m, until the desired adjustment is obtained, after which the setscrew O is tightened as before.

In adjusting the neck as above mentioned the socket N prevents the saidneck from being turned sidewise during such adjustment and fasteningthereof. In case the neck should be held out of true centrally relativeto the rim of the instrument it can readily be adjusted from side toside so as to place it in a central position simply by releasing onepair of screws m', m, and tightening the corresponding ones on theopposite side of the neck or vice versa. By this arrangement andconstruction the height of the strings above the drum may be adjustedwith the greatest degree of nicety; the central position of the neckrelative to the rim is obtained; the strength of the rim is increased asit needs only a very small perforation sufficient for the holding screwO to pass through as compared with the large perforation needed for thepassing through of the shank of the neck as is common in ordinarybanjos. The instrument is rendered lighter than the ordinary ones owingto the dispensing with a shank on the neck passing diametrically throughthe rim; and liability to accidents and breakage is avoided intransportation or otherwise by detaching the neck l rom the rim enablingthe instrument to be packed away in a very small and convenient space.

Havingthus fully described the nature,con struction, and operation of myinvention, I wish to secure by Letters Patent and claim-- l. In a banjoor similar stringed instrument a rim and detachable neck combined with afastening screw adapted to pass loosely through the rim and screwed intothe neck or its connections and havin ga concave head and a convexwasher interposed between said head and interior of the rim,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In abanjo or similar stringed instrument a rim having a socket and adetachable and adjustable neck having a shoe adapted toiit said socketcombined with an adjustable fastening screw for securing said neck andrim and a series of set screws for adjusting the inclination of the neckrelative to the rim substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a banjo or similar stringed instrument a rim having a socket and adetachable and adjustable neck having a shoe adapted to iit said socket,combined with an adjustable fastening screw for securing said neck andrim and a pair of adjusting screws adapted to bear against the lowerpart of the said rim and another pair of adj ustingscrews adapted tobear against the hoop of the rim and a washer in terposed between thelatter and its adjusting screws, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses, on this 13th dajl ot June, A. D.1893.

ALFRED ANDERSON.

lVitnesses:

ALBAN ANDREN, WM. W. LUMMUs.

